LPO/Young

Share via

It’s almost inevitable that the more energy that is dissipated physically in conducting Mahler, the less there will be within the music itself. And so it was on Wednesday night, when, with arms flailing, long open jacket flapping and auburn hair flying in all directions, Simone Young conducted the London Philharmonic in the first of her two concerts with the orchestra.

Mahler originally called the first movement of his Second Symphony Funeral Rites. There were so many good intentions here: an opening snarl like an animal baring its fangs; a sense of the impatience of time’s winged chariot; and daringly